Combination Shirt and Jacket

ABSTRACT

A combination shirt and jacket includes a shirt front portion having a collar formed at an upper end of the shirt front portion and first attachment mechanisms formed along sides of the shirt front portion, a jacket element. The jacket element includes second attachment mechanisms attached to an interior of the jacket element for engaging the first attachment mechanisms of the shirt front portion and a liner-less back portion formed along a back of the jack and adjacent to a wearer&#39;s back, the liner-less back portion shaped to fit with the back panel portion of the shirt element.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/254,211 entitled “Shirt and Jacket Combination,” which was filedon Nov. 12, 2015, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to the field of formal and semi-formal clothing.More particularly, this disclosure relates to a shirt and jacketcombination for providing increased comfort to a wearer of the shirt andjacket.

BACKGROUND

Men's and women's formal wear, such as suits and tuxedos, typicallyrequires multiple layers of garments including a dress shirt, jacket,pants, and other accessories such as a tie, bowtie, socks, shoes,jewelry, or other accessories to complete an ensemble.

The heaviest portion of a formal or semi-formal outfit is typically thejacket and shirt. Other layers may be included such as a vest orcummerbund. These layers are positioned adjacent a wearer's torso andoften results in the wearer becoming hot and sweating. This isparticularly true in warm and humid climates, often making wearing thesegarments hot and uncomfortable. Additional difficulties related wearinga formal or semi-formal outfit formed of multiple layers include alength of time required to put on the outfit and the cost of purchasingeach individual layer for the outfit.

What is needed, therefore, is suit and jacket combination that reduces anumber of layers of clothing worn and that allows ready customization ofthe suit and jacket combination.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by a combination shirt and jacket thatincludes a removable shirt front portion. In a first aspect, acombination shirt and jacket is provided having: a shirt front portionhaving a collar formed at an upper end of the shirt front portion andfirst attachment mechanisms formed along sides of the shirt frontportion, a jacket element having partial liner elements formed oninterior sides of the jacket, second attachment mechanisms attached toan interior of the jacket element for engaging the first attachmentmechanisms of the shirt front portion, and a liner-less back portionformed along a back of the jack and adjacent to a wearer's back, theliner-less back portion shaped to fit with the back panel portion of theshirt element.

In one embodiment, the combination shirt and jacket further includes aback panel portion attached at an upper end to the collar of the shirtfront portion, the back panel portion extending along a length of thewearer's back.

In another embodiment, the first attachment mechanisms are formed alongsides of both the shirt front portion and the back panel portion.

In yet another embodiment, the jacket element further includes a pair ofremovable cuffs attached to ends of sleeves of the jacket.

In one embodiment, the combination shirt and jacket further includes anattachment mechanism formed around an edge of each of the removablecuffs for attaching the cuffs to the sleeves of the jacket. In anotherembodiment, the attachment mechanism is a zipper.

In another embodiment, the shirt front portion and jacket element areformed from a material selected from the group consisting of cotton,cashmere, and wool, and wherein the back panel portion is formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, andspandex.

In a second aspect, a combination shirt and jacket is provided having: ashirt front portion having a collar formed at an upper end of the shirtfront portion and first attachment mechanisms formed along sides of theshirt front portion, a jacket element having partial liner elementsformed on interior sides of the jacket, second attachment mechanismsattached to an interior of the jacket element for engaging the firstattachment mechanisms of the shirt front portion, and a liner-less backportion formed along a back of the jack and adjacent to a wearer's back,the liner-less back portion shaped to fit with the back panel portion ofthe shirt element; and a back panel portion attached at an upper end tothe collar of the shirt front portion, the back panel portion extendingalong a length of the wearer's back.

In one embodiment, the shirt front portion and jacket element are formedfrom a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, cashmere,and wool, and wherein the back panel portion is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, and spandex.

In a third aspect, a combination shirt and jacket is provided having ashirt front portion having a collar formed at an upper end of the shirtfront portion and first attachment mechanisms formed along sides of theshirt front portion, a jacket element having partial liner elementsformed on interior sides of the jacket, second attachment mechanismsattached to an interior of the jacket element for engaging the firstattachment mechanisms of the shirt front portion, and a liner-less backportion formed along a back of the jack and adjacent to a wearer's back,the liner-less back portion shaped to fit with the back panel portion ofthe shirt element; and a back panel portion attached at an upper end tothe collar of the shirt front portion, the back panel portion extendingalong a length of the wearer's back. The shirt front portion and jacketelement are formed from a material selected from the group consisting ofcotton, cashmere, and wool, and wherein the back panel portion is formedfrom a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon,and spandex.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure willbecome better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription, appended claims, and accompanying figures, wherein elementsare not to scale so as to more clearly show the details, wherein likereference numbers indicate elements throughout the several views, andwherein:

FIGS. 1-3 show a shirt front and jacket combination according to oneembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a shirt front portion of a combination shirt andjacket according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 shows a jacket element of a combination shirt and jacketaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 shows an interior view of a combination shirt and jacketaccording to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 8-10 show embodiments of removable cuffs of a combination shirtand jacket according embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various terms used herein are intended to have particular meanings. Someof these terms are defined below for the purpose of clarity. Thedefinitions given below are meant to cover all forms of the words beingdefined (e.g., singular, plural, present tense, past tense). If thedefinition of any term below diverges from the commonly understoodand/or dictionary definition of such term, the definitions belowcontrol.

A suit and jacket combination is provided that reduces a number oflayers required to be worn while still giving the appearance of formalor semi-formal wear. As referred to herein, formal wear and semi-formalwear includes suits, tuxedos, dress suits, dress coats, tail coats,dinner jackets, morning suits, lounge suits, business suits, and othervarious forms of formal and semi formal wear that include multiplelayers such as a shirt and jacket.

FIG. 1 shows a basic embodiment of a combination shirt and jacket 10including a shirt element 12, a jacket element 14, and a pair of cuffs16 and 18. The shirt element 12 and pair of cuffs 16 and 18 areremovably attached to the jacket element 14 and give the appearance of atraditional dress shirt worn under a jacket. Specifically, the shirtelement 12 and pair of cuffs 16 and 18 provide an appearance of beingformed of a full dress shirt, wherein the pair of cuffs 16 and 18 extendslightly beyond an end of sleeves of the jacket 14, wherein the jacket14 has some degree of movement relative to the shirt element 12 suchthat the jacket 14 may be worn in an unbuttoned configuration shown inFIG. 1 or a buttoned configuration shown in FIG. 2, and wherein theshirt element 12 substantially overlaps the jacket element 14 such thatthe jacket 14 may be opened while still giving the appearance of a fulldress shirt as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the shirt element includes a shirt frontportion 19 having one or more buttons 20 and a collar 22. The shirtelement 12 may be formed of any color, pattern, or material, or can beany combination of shirt/vest or shirt/cummerbund of any color stylepattern or material. Any combination of shirt/vest/cummerbund will besewn and attached together as one piece to become one “insert”. As shownin FIG. 5, the shirt element 12 includes a back panel portion 24 that ispositioned between a wearer's back and a back portion of the jacket 14when worn. The back panel portion 24 is preferably formed of a moisturewicking or performance material. For example, the moisture wicking orperformance material may be polyester or another type of syntheticfiber. The back panel portion 24 is attached at an upper end to thecollar 22 of the shirt front portion 19 and extends along a length of awearer's back. The back panel portion 24 may be attached by sewing orotherwise permanently attaching the back panel portion 24 to the shirtfront portion 19 or, alternatively, may be removably attached using oneor more fasteners or other mechanisms such as a zipper. The shirtelement 12 is attached to the jacket element 14 using attachmentmechanisms 25 and 26 as described in greater detail below.

The shirt element 12 includes cutouts 27 and 29, and the attachmentmechanism is formed along an edge of the cutouts for attaching the shirtelement 12 to the jacket 14. The attachment mechanism may be formed ofone or more buttons, snaps, zippers, straps, or any other acceptablemethod of attaching one garment to another without directly sewingtogether.

As shown in FIG. 5, the attachment mechanism 26 is formed into a U-shapearound sides of the shirt element 12 such that a wearer's arms passthrough the U-shaped opening formed within the attachment mechanism 26.

The attachment mechanism is adapted to attach to matching attachmentmechanism portions attached to the jacket element 14, as shown in FIGS.6 and 7. The attachment mechanisms of are jacket is shaped to conform toand mate with the attachment mechanism of the shirt element positionedaround the cutout of the shirt element. The shirt element 12 attaches tothe jacket element 14 using the attachment mechanisms 25 and 26. If wornwithout the jacket element 14, the shirt element 12 covers a frontportion of the wearer and includes the back portion 24 that ispositioned between the wearer's back and a liner-less portion of thejacket element 14 as described in greater detail below.

With further reference to FIG. 7, the jacket element 14 includes partialliner portions 30 and 32 positioned on sides of the jacket element 14.The jacket element 14 further includes a liner-less portion 34 along aback of the jacket element 14. The liner-less portion 34 is aligned withthe moisture wicking back portion 24 described above, such that when awearer is wearing both the shirt element 12 and jacket element 14, theback portion 24 of the shirt 14 fits adjacent the liner-less portion 34of the jacket element 14.

The shirt front portion 19 and jacket element 14 are preferably made oftypical dress shirt and jacket materials, such as woven cotton,cashmere, or wool. The back panel portion 24 is preferably formed of adifferent material from the shirt front portion 19, and is morepreferably formed of a performance or moisture wicking material such aspolyester, spandex, or nylon. In one embodiment, the shirt front portion19 may not include the back panel portion 24 such that a user's back isonly covered by a single layer of the jacket element 14 as describedabove.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the suit and jacket combination includesa pair of cuffs that are removably attached to the jacket element at theend of sleeves of the jacket. The sleeves may be formed of a strip offabric including one or more buttons and an attachment mechanism formedalong an edge of the strip. The cuff shall may be any current style,shape, color, or design of a dress or tuxedo cuff. The attachmentmechanism of the cuff engages with an attachment mechanism located at anend of the sleeve of the jacket (FIG. 10) such that each of the pair ofcuffs is removably attached to the jacket element at the end of thesleeves, thereby giving the appearance of traditional cuffs of a dressshirt.

When the pair of cuffs are attached to the jacket element, the cuffsgive the appearance of a traditional dress shirt by extending a desiredamount from an end of the sleeves. A button or cuff link may be includedwith the pair of cuffs to otherwise close the cuff around a wrist of thewearer and further enhance the appearance of a traditional dress shirt.When attached, the cuffs are fully independent of the shirt element,thereby making it possible to mix combinations of colors and patterns ofcuffs and shirt elements.

The jacket, shirt element, and pair of cuffs combine to create anoverall appearance of a separate jacket and dress shirt while onlycovering the wearer with one layer of clothing. In some embodiments, asingle moisture wicking material may be formed within or adjacent to theshirt element and jacket to further prevent sweating or otheroverheating of the individual wearing the jacket and shirt combination.By removing a liner along a back portion of the jacket 14, fewer layersare between a wearer and an outside environment, thus providing a coolerarrangement of clothing on the wearer than a typical separate shirt andjacket. Further, the shirt element 12 may be subsequently removed suchthat the shirt element 12 may be laundered.

When in use, a wearer may select a particular shirt element 12, jacketelement 14, and pair of cuffs 16 and 18 for being combined with oneanother. After selecting each of these elements in a desired appearance,the shirt element may be attached to the jacket element and pair ofcuffs also attached to the jacket to create a jacket and shirtcombination that gives the appearance of a traditional dress shirt.However, the jacket and shirt combination of the present applicationonly results in a substantially single layer of clothing worn by anindividual to substantially reduce the likelihood of a wearer becominghot. Unlike other various clothing combinations, the shirt and jacketcombination of the present disclosure includes a substantial overlapbetween the shirt element and jacket such that the jacket may be opened,buttoned closed, or otherwise adjusted while still maintaining theappearance of a separate jacket and dress shirt. This is accomplished byincluding a full front of the shirt element that may be tucked into apair of pants. Further, the attachment mechanism of the shirt elementand jacket are substantially U-shaped such and positioned below a collarof the shirt element such that the attachment mechanism remainsconcealed even during adjustment of the jacket.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the presentdisclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. The described preferred embodiments are not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the scope of the disclosure to the preciseform(s) disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible inlight of the above teachings. The embodiments are chosen and describedin an effort to provide the best illustrations of the principles of thedisclosure and its practical application, and to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to utilize the concepts revealed in thedisclosure in various embodiments and with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications andvariations are within the scope of the disclosure as determined by theappended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to whichthey are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination shirt and jacket comprising: ashirt front portion having a collar formed at an upper end of the shirtfront portion and first attachment mechanisms formed along sides of theshirt front portion, a jacket element having partial liner elementsformed on interior sides of the jacket, second attachment mechanismsattached to an interior of the jacket element for engaging the firstattachment mechanisms of the shirt front portion, and a liner-less backportion formed along a back of the jack and adjacent to a wearer's back,the liner-less back portion shaped to fit with the back panel portion ofthe shirt element.
 2. The combination shirt and jacket of claim 1further comprising a back panel portion attached at an upper end to thecollar of the shirt front portion, the back panel portion extendingalong a length of the wearer's back.
 3. The combination shirt and jacketof claim 2, wherein the first attachment mechanisms are formed alongsides of both the shirt front portion and the back panel portion.
 4. Thecombination shirt and jacket of claim 1, the jacket element furthercomprising a pair of removable cuffs attached to ends of sleeves of thejacket.
 5. The combination shirt and jacket of claim 4, furthercomprising an attachment mechanism formed around an edge of each of theremovable cuffs for attaching the cuffs to the sleeves of the jacket. 6.The combination shirt and jacket of claim 5, wherein the attachmentmechanism is a zipper.
 7. The combination shirt and jacket of claim 2,wherein the shirt front portion and jacket element are formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of cotton, cashmere, andwool, and wherein the back panel portion is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, and spandex. 8.A combination shirt and jacket comprising: a shirt front portion havinga collar formed at an upper end of the shirt front portion and firstattachment mechanisms formed along sides of the shirt front portion, ajacket element having partial liner elements formed on interior sides ofthe jacket, second attachment mechanisms attached to an interior of thejacket element for engaging the first attachment mechanisms of the shirtfront portion, and a liner-less back portion formed along a back of thejack and adjacent to a wearer's back, the liner-less back portion shapedto fit with the back panel portion of the shirt element; and a backpanel portion attached at an upper end to the collar of the shirt frontportion, the back panel portion extending along a length of the wearer'sback.
 9. The combination shirt and jacket of claim 8, wherein the shirtfront portion and jacket element are formed from a material selectedfrom the group consisting of cotton, cashmere, and wool, and wherein theback panel portion is formed from a material selected from the groupconsisting of polyester, nylon, and spandex.
 10. A combination shirt andjacket comprising: a shirt front portion having a collar formed at anupper end of the shirt front portion and first attachment mechanismsformed along sides of the shirt front portion, a jacket element havingpartial liner elements formed on interior sides of the jacket, secondattachment mechanisms attached to an interior of the jacket element forengaging the first attachment mechanisms of the shirt front portion, anda liner-less back portion formed along a back of the jack and adjacentto a wearer's back, the liner-less back portion shaped to fit with theback panel portion of the shirt element; and a back panel portionattached at an upper end to the collar of the shirt front portion, theback panel portion extending along a length of the wearer's back;wherein the shirt front portion and jacket element are formed from amaterial selected from the group consisting of cotton, cashmere, andwool, and wherein the back panel portion is formed from a materialselected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, and spandex.